DIY 2 HP Steam Turbine

I want to publish a fully open-source steam turbine that reliably delivers 2 HP (≈1.5 kW) from a 6 bar saturated-steam supply flowing at roughly 40 kg h⁻¹. Anyone with basic workshop tools—a welder, angle-grinder and hand drill—should be able to build it, so the design must avoid any precision machining. All structural and pressure-containing parts are to be ordinary steel plate, tube or bar that can be cut, drilled and welded. The only bought-in precision items may be off-the-shelf ball bearings.

The turbine is aimed at small-scale electricity generation, so the shaft layout should easily couple to a PM alternator or automotive generator. Please keep the rotational speed within a range that inexpensive bearings and common magnets can handle and include a simple balancing method a lone mechanic can replicate (e.g., static balance on knife-edges).

Deliverables
• Step-by-step fabrication guide written for non-engineers, covering nozzle fabrication, rotor assembly, housing, seals and balancing.
• Full parts list with commercial catalogue numbers for the bearings and any other purchased items.
• Material specification for every steel component (thickness, grade) and weld type.
• Operating and safety notes, including pressure testing procedure, overspeed protection and recommended lubrication.

I’ll review the package against these criteria, build a prototype in my own shop and publish the results under an open licence, so clarity and buildability are just as important as the thermodynamics. If you have experience designing rugged, low-tech turbomachinery, I’d love to see how you’d turn this concept into a globally accessible power solution.